# Selge ancient city, a mountain day from Side > Selge is a ruined Pisidian city at about 950 m in the Taurus Mountains, inside Köprülü Canyon National Park and right among the houses of Altınkaya village. There is no ticket office or fence, and entry is reported to be free during daylight. An hour covers the ruins, but it is 1.5–2 hours’ drive from Side each way — a full day, usually combined with Köprülü Canyon or Tazı Canyon. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge - City: [Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side), Turkey - YesGo score: 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free: no ticket office or fence - Hours: No set hours — daylight only - Where: Altınkaya village (formerly Zerk), Manavgat district, Köprülü Canyon National Park - Altitude: 950 m per Turkey’s Ministry of Culture; other sources give 1,000–1,250 m - From Side: ≈ 75–80 km, 1.5–2 hours by car each way - From the D400: ≈ 55 km of paved road from the Taşağıl junction - From the Oluk Bridge: ≈ 13 km of hairpins up to the village - Time needed: 1 hour on site; a full day with the drive and canyon - Public transport: No dolmuş from Side; rare minibuses from Serik, and you may not get back the same day — tour, car or taxi - Coordinates: 37.22923, 31.12703 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **The theatre** — Selge’s best-preserved monument, cut into the rock and rebuilt in the 3rd century AD (source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı (Ministry of Culture and Tourism), Selge Antik Kenti; English Wikipedia, Selge) - **950 m** — above sea level per Turkey’s Ministry of Culture; German Wikipedia gives about 1,000 m, Russian and Turkish about 1,250 m (source: Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü, Selge; German, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia, Selge) - **Köprülü Canyon** — the ruins lie inside the national park, created in 1973 (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia, Köprülü Canyon) - **10,000–15,000** — spectators the theatre held — Russian Wikipedia says 10,000, German 15,000 (source: Russian Wikipedia, Сельге; German Wikipedia, Selge (Pisidien)) - **Calchas** — the seer said to have founded the city after the Trojan War; Strabo also names Spartan settlers (source: English, Russian and German Wikipedia, Selge) - **333 BC** — Selge sent envoys to Alexander the Great and won his favour (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, Selge) - **218 BC** — the Seleucid general Achaeus besieged the city (source: English, Russian and German Wikipedia, Selge) - **≈ 20,000** — Strabo’s figure — an army in some retellings, the population in others (source: English Wikipedia; German and Turkish Wikipedia, Selge) - **5th century BC** — Selge was already minting its own coins, silver and later bronze (source: Russian Wikipedia, Сельге; German Wikipedia, Selge (Pisidien)) - **25 BC** — the city became part of the Roman province of Galatia (source: Russian Wikipedia, Сельге; German Wikipedia, Selge (Pisidien)) - **Oluk Bridge** — a Roman arch bridge over the Köprü river on the way up, 5 km north of Beşkonak (source: English Wikipedia, Eurymedon Bridge (Selge); German Wikipedia, Selge (Pisidien)) - **Altınkaya** — the village, formerly Zerk, sits right inside the ancient city (source: Russian, Turkish and German Wikipedia, Selge) ## What is Selge? Selge was a **mountain city of Pisidia**, one of the strongest in this part of Anatolia. It sits on the southern flank of the Taurus where the Köprü river — the ancient Eurymedon — cuts through the range. Legend credits the seer Calchas with founding it after the Trojan War; Strabo adds Spartan settlers. It grew rich on wine, olives, timber and storax resin sent down to the coast, and was minting coins by the 5th century BC. Its envoys met Alexander the Great in 333 BC, the Seleucid general Achaeus laid siege in 218 BC, and in 25 BC Selge was folded into the Roman province of Galatia. It later became a Byzantine bishopric before its people drifted away. Today the village of **Altınkaya** fills the site: houses, vegetable plots and goat pens sit between the ancient walls. That is what sets Selge apart from the tidy coastal sites — the ruins are part of a working village. > **This is a mountain day, not a stroll** Selge is 1.5–2 hours’ drive from Side each way, and the last stretch is a narrow mountain road. There is no bus from Side to the village, so without a tour or car it is close to impossible. Got only half a day? Stay with the ruins in Side itself, ten minutes’ walk from the gate. ## Is there an entrance fee? There is no ticket office and no fence: the ruins lie inside the village and visitors walk among them freely. Turkish Archaeological News states plainly that entry is free and the site is unguarded, and Selge does not appear among the ticketed museums and sites on muze.gov.tr, the Ministry of Culture’s portal. Still, we found no official page on visiting rules, so entry and hours are marked “verifying”. Carry a little lira just in case. There are no opening hours either, but come in daylight: the road is a mountain one and there is no lighting at the theatre. Summer middays are hot and shadeless even at this height, so morning or late afternoon is best. In winter and early spring the pass can get snow. ## How to get to Selge from Side 1. Easiest: a day tour. Operators in Side run Köprülü Canyon rafting or jeep-safari days with Selge as the last stop, and a “Tazı Canyon, Adam Kayalar and Selge” 4x4 trip that adds the canyon viewpoints and the rock figures — typically 7–9 hours. Pick-up is from hotels or the bus stop by the Vespasian Gate near the Roman Theatre. 2. By car: take the D400 west from Side towards Antalya to the Taşağıl junction and the “Köprülü Kanyon” and “Selge” signs, then head north along the Köprü river to Beşkonak. Turkey’s Ministry of Culture puts the road from the highway to Selge at about 55 km, all paved. 3. Beyond Beşkonak, cross the river on the Roman Oluk Bridge, where the rafting trips start. It is very narrow, so give way to oncoming cars. 4. From the bridge, about 13 km of hairpins climb to Altınkaya — 30–40 minutes. The road is paved but narrow, with few barriers on the bends. 5. Park at the edge of the village; the theatre is a few minutes on foot. Return the same way. A taxi for the day has to be arranged in Side — you won’t find one in the village. ## What to see at Selge - **The theatre** — the reason to come. Its tiers are cut into the slope and face the mountains; rebuilt in the 3rd century AD, it held somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 people depending on the source. - The outline of the **stadium** below the theatre — a long, flat strip along the hillside. - The **agora** with its colonnade on the ridge, and a monumental fountain beside it. - Foundations of **two temples**, linked to Zeus and Artemis. - **City walls** with towers on the southern hill, the main gate, cisterns and traces of an aqueduct. - The limestone pinnacles around the village — with the ruins, they make the view photographers come for. ## Is Selge worth visiting? Yes, if you like your ancient sites empty and your views big: a theatre above a mountain valley, rock spires and village fields — nothing on the coast looks like this. It is an easy yes if you are already heading to [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon): Selge adds an hour, not a separate trip. Not really for the ruins alone: three to four hours of driving for an hour on site is a steep trade. Short on time, stick with [Side Old Town](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-old-town) and the [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo) by the sea. And skip it if you get carsick — the climb is all hairpins. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] A full day free, not half - [ ] A tour booked or a car — there is no bus to the village - [ ] Shoes for rocks and slopes - [ ] Water and a hat — almost no shade on the site - [ ] A light layer: it is cooler up here than on the coast - [ ] Some Turkish lira cash for tips and the village shop - [ ] Travel-sickness tablets if hairpins get to you ## Selge vs the ruins in Side | | Selge | Side Old Town | Theatre of Side | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Setting | Mountains above Köprülü Canyon | Peninsula by the sea | At the old town entrance | | From Side | ≈ 1.5–2 h each way | On foot | On foot | | Entry | Free, no ticket office | Free in the streets | Closed for restoration | | Time needed | ≈ 1 h + a day of driving | 2–3 h | 15 min from outside | | Crowds | Few | Many | Busy at the fence | | Highlight | Theatre among rocks and village | Columns, harbour, cafés | Roman theatre façade | Selge suits a canyon day or anyone after ruins in the mountains. One day and no car? Choose Side Old Town. ## Ancient sites around Side compared Historic places in Side rated by YesGo. - [Side Old Town](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-old-town) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; theatre and museum extra - [Agora of Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-agora) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free — view through the fence - [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Roman Theatre of Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-ancient-theatre) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Closed for restoration - [Side Museum](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-museum) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · €5, under 8 free - [Selge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, no ticket office - [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry; rafting via tours ## A mountain day: canyon, Selge, harbour dinner Köprülü Canyon and the Oluk Bridge in the morning, the climb to Selge after lunch, dinner at Side harbour in the evening. YesGo fits in the timing. 1. [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry; rafting via tours 2. [Selge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, no ticket office 3. [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free > **Shoot from the top row** Climb to the highest seats: from there the bowl of the theatre, the rock spires and the Taurus beyond the village all fit in one frame. Morning light is softer; by afternoon the slope faces into the sun. ## Good to know Selge is not Sillyon or Selinus — those are other ancient cities on the coast. Nor is it the Selge Beach resort in Side, which simply borrows the name. ## Tips - Pair Selge with Köprülü Canyon — same road, and most tours do exactly that. - Driving yourself? Leave Side before 8 am to have the hairpins before the jeep-safari convoys. - Bring water: the village shop is tiny and the site has no café or shade. - Stick to the paths — between the stones are villagers’ gardens and pens; don’t walk into yards. - Short on time? Ancient Side is right in town: the [theatre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-ancient-theatre) and the [agora](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-agora). ## Questions ### Where is Selge? High in the Taurus above Köprülü Canyon, in Altınkaya village, Manavgat district, Antalya province — inside Köprülü Canyon National Park. ### What is Selge known for? Its theatre on a hillside facing the mountains, the legend that Calchas founded it, and the fact that the ruins sit inside a living village. It was one of the strongest cities of ancient Pisidia. ### How big is the theatre at Selge? Sources differ: Russian Wikipedia says it held 10,000 people, German Wikipedia 15,000. Rebuilt in the 3rd century AD, it is the best-preserved building on the site. ### How do I get to Selge from Side? On a day tour, or by car: the D400 towards Antalya to the Taşağıl junction, north to Beşkonak, over the Roman Oluk Bridge and about 13 km of hairpins. Roughly 1.5–2 hours each way. ### Can you reach Selge by public transport? There is no dolmuş from Side to Altınkaya. Turkey Travel Planner mentions infrequent minibuses from Serik, but you may not get back the same day. Realistically it is a tour, a rental car or a taxi booked for the day. ### Is there an entrance fee for Selge? There is no ticket office or fence — the ruins lie in the village and visitors walk in freely; Turkish Archaeological News says entry is free. We found no official confirmation from the ministry, so it is marked as verifying. ### How long do you need at Selge? About an hour on the ruins. With the drive from Side and stops in the canyon, it is a full day — tours run 7–9 hours. ### What is the Tazı Canyon, Adam Kayalar and Selge tour? A 4x4 day trip: viewpoints over Tazı Canyon, the Adam Kayalar rock pinnacles that look like standing figures, and the ruins of Selge. It runs from Side, Alanya, Antalya and Belek; what is included, lunch too, depends on the operator. ### Is Selge worth visiting? Yes, if you are already going to Köprülü Canyon or love empty ancient sites. For the ruins alone it is debatable: three to four hours on the road for an hour on site. ### Can you do Selge and rafting in one day? Yes — that is the standard tour: rafting near the Oluk Bridge in the morning, then the drive up to Selge in the afternoon. ## How we checked Altitude, the road from the highway and the distance from the Oluk Bridge come from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism (950 m, about 55 km, about 13 km) and carry the “official” badge; other sources give 1,000 or 1,250 m and 12 km from the bridge, shown alongside. Sources split on the theatre’s capacity, 10,000 or 15,000, and Strabo’s figure of 20,000 is retold as an army by some and as the population by others. Entry: Turkish Archaeological News says free and unguarded, and Selge is not among the ticketed sites on muze.gov.tr, but there is no official page on entry or hours, so both are marked “verifying”. Driving time differs too: Turkey Travel Planner gives 81 km and 1.5 hours, tour sellers about 75 km, so we say 1.5–2 hours. Minibuses from Serik are mentioned by one guide only, so marked “verifying”. ## Sources - Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye: Türkiye Kültür Portalı, Selge Antik Kenti; Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü, Selge; muze.gov.tr - Turkish Archaeological News: Selge - Turkey Travel Planner: Selge (Altınkaya) - English Wikipedia: Selge; Köprülü Canyon; Eurymedon Bridge (Selge) - Russian Wikipedia: Сельге - German Wikipedia: Selge (Pisidien) - Turkish Wikipedia: Selge; Köprülü Kanyon Milli Parkı - Wikidata Q769197 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.